ACE (Associate Certified Entomologist) Prep Course FALL 2025

ACE (Associate Certified Entomologist) Prep Course FALL 2026

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
Are you certified in pesticide applicator category 7 with a minimum of 5 years of verifiable pest management experience in the United States? Then you may be ready to become an ACE, an associate certified entomologist. Before you can become an ACE, you will need to provide two letters of professional reference, be willing to adhere to the ACE Code of Ethics, complete the application, and pay the application fee to the Entomological Society of America, and pass an online test of your knowledge of structural pest control. The program and its benefits are explained in its entirety at ACE Certification. The application process is separate from the training offered below.

To help you prepare for the exam, Dr. Karen Vail, Extension Urban Entomologist of the UT Department of Entomology & Plant Pathology will provide an ACE Prep Course this fall. All training sessions will be virtual and held 5 pm to at least 6:30 pm ET on select Mondays via Zoom. A new Zoom link will be sent each week. By offering online training, we no longer limit participants to be within a few hours’ drive of campus!

COST TO ATTEND:
Entire Course $300
Per Class $30

REGISTRATION DEADLINE:
Full Course -- August 1, 2026

You can register for all classes of the ACE Prep Course at one time for a discounted price of $300 or you can pay $30 for each individual class as long as you register at least one week ahead of the training date. One Tennessee pesticide applicator recertification unit in categories 7, 8, 10 and 12 applied for per session. Course will only be held if at least 5 register before August 1st.

INSTRUCTOR:
Dr. Karen M. Vail, kvail@utk.edu, has over 30 years of experience in urban pest management. She is a professor and Extension Urban Entomologist in the University of Tennessee’s Entomology and Plant Pathology (EPP) Department. Surprise guest lecturers will be present throughout the course.

We suggest you purchase the IPM for the Urban Professional: A Study Guide for the Associate Certified Entomologist from ESA and NPMA Field Guide to Structural Pests (app and print) prior to taking the training. The ESA study guide is discounted when you purchase it with your ACE application. In the past, shipping of the manuals has been greatly delayed, so order the manuals as soon as you sign up for the class!
 

2026 Training Date	Subject
August 17	Why Study Pests in the Built Environment
August 24	Integrated Pest Management and Tools
August 31	Insecticides and Modes of Action
September 7	Labor Day – No Class
September 14	Pesticide Safety, Laws & Labels
September 21	Insect Biology and Morphology
September 28	Ants
October 5	Fall Break – No class
October 12	Cockroaches
October 19	Flies
October 26	Stinging and Biting Arthropods
November 2	Stored Products Pests
November 9	Occasional Invaders
November 16	Wood-destroying Organisms
November 23	Common Commensal Pests and DI
November 30	Extended review
December 7* 5 pm – 8 pm	ACE Exam (limited to 15)+

+The ACE Exam will be given 5 pm - 8 pm in room 124 Agriculture and Natural Resources Building.

For more information contact Karen Vail at kvail@utk.edu or 865-974-8800.